January 16. In Honor of St. Peter's chains.
Herode Agrippa, after killed St. Jack, the Brother of St. John the evangelist, caught St. Peter and put him in jail. He wanted to kill him too after the Jewish easter day. The church prayed for Peter continually. (Acts 12)
When easter day arrived, God's angel appeared in St. Peter's jail. St. Peter, two chains in hand, slept between two soldiers. The angel woke him up, saying: "Peter, put your clothes on and follow me". He did, and when he arrived outside the jail, the angel disappeared. Peter realized he was saved by God who sent His angel for this purpose. He went to the house of Mary, mother of Mark the evangelist where the majority of the church was praying for him.
San Pietro in Vincoli (Saint Peter in Chains) is a minor basilica in Rome, Italy. It is most famous for housing Michelangelo's statue Moses.
The basilica was first built in the middle of the 5th century to house the relic of the chains that bound Saint Peter while imprisoned in Jerusalem.
According to legend, when Empress Eudoxia (wife of Emperor Valentinian III) gave Pope Leo I the chains as a gift, he compared them to the chains of St. Peter's first imprisonment in the Mamertine Prison in Rome and the two chains miraculously fused together.
The chains are kept in a reliquary under the main altar in the basilica.
The basilica has undergone several restorations and rebuildings, including a restoration by Pope Adrian I, a rebuilding by Pope Sixtus IV and another by Pope Julius II. There was also a renovation in 1875. Some modernizations were made at that time.
Michelangelo's Moses, which dates from 1515, is the most notable piece of artwork in the basilica. Originally intended as part of a 40-statue funeral monument for Pope Julius II, "Moses" became the Pope's funeral monument and tomb in his family's church.
Two of St. Peter's chains are at Rome, in a small church called: "Church of St. Peter's chains", edified by The Queen "Oedixia" to keep and honor them. The church honors these chains on January 16.
Herode Agrippa, after killed St. Jack, the Brother of St. John the evangelist, caught St. Peter and put him in jail. He wanted to kill him too after the Jewish easter day. The church prayed for Peter continually. (Acts 12)
When easter day arrived, God's angel appeared in St. Peter's jail. St. Peter, two chains in hand, slept between two soldiers. The angel woke him up, saying: "Peter, put your clothes on and follow me". He did, and when he arrived outside the jail, the angel disappeared. Peter realized he was saved by God who sent His angel for this purpose. He went to the house of Mary, mother of Mark the evangelist where the majority of the church was praying for him.
San Pietro in Vincoli (Saint Peter in Chains) is a minor basilica in Rome, Italy. It is most famous for housing Michelangelo's statue Moses.
The basilica was first built in the middle of the 5th century to house the relic of the chains that bound Saint Peter while imprisoned in Jerusalem.
According to legend, when Empress Eudoxia (wife of Emperor Valentinian III) gave Pope Leo I the chains as a gift, he compared them to the chains of St. Peter's first imprisonment in the Mamertine Prison in Rome and the two chains miraculously fused together.
The chains are kept in a reliquary under the main altar in the basilica.
The basilica has undergone several restorations and rebuildings, including a restoration by Pope Adrian I, a rebuilding by Pope Sixtus IV and another by Pope Julius II. There was also a renovation in 1875. Some modernizations were made at that time.
Michelangelo's Moses, which dates from 1515, is the most notable piece of artwork in the basilica. Originally intended as part of a 40-statue funeral monument for Pope Julius II, "Moses" became the Pope's funeral monument and tomb in his family's church.
Two of St. Peter's chains are at Rome, in a small church called: "Church of St. Peter's chains", edified by The Queen "Oedixia" to keep and honor them. The church honors these chains on January 16.